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WI. T. JOPE & W. JOHNSTON. MACHINE FOR PUNGHING SHOVEL STRAPS.

Pa-tented A r.24,188s;

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Wmesses UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. T. JOPE A D WILLIAM M. JOHNSTON, F PITTSBURG, PA.

MACHINE FOR PUNCHlNG SHOVEL-STRAPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,249, dated April 24, 1883,

Application filed May 3, 1882. lNomodel.)

and WILLIAM M. JOHNSTON, of Pittsburg, in p the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Punching Shovel- Straps and other Articles; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Heretofore in the manufacture of shovelstraps the rivet-holes have been punched in pairs under a. punch before the socket was opened. There are three rivet-holes in. each strap, and they are punched opposite to each other. When, however, the shovel is formed, the socket opened, and the straps are laid down upon the handle, which is of curved form, the holes do not come opposite to each other, and it is necessary in attaching the handle to bore the rivet-hole diagonally through it, so as to extend between the rivet-holes ill the straps. Thus therivets are in a diagonal position, and it is diificult to lay down the heads smoothly upon the Straps. This is donelby hammering them, and it makes at best a poor job, and requires a good deal of labor tohammer down the heads with any degree of smoothness and finish upon the straps. In the attempt to obtain a good finish rivets have been made with an angling head; but even this is only an expedient, and not attended with the degree of success that is desired. It is apparentthatasthe rivetextends diagonallythrough the wood it requires to be longer than if it could be placed at right angles to the axis of the handle. This also occasions a loss.

Our" improvement consists in a machine which will punch both straps simultaneously after the shovel has been formed and the socket opened, and in such a way as to cause the holes to come directly opposite to each other when laid down upon the handle.

To enable others skilled in theart to make and use our invention, we will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings; in which Figure 1 is a. plan view of ourimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line 00 an shovel-straps,

Like letters of referenceindieate like parts in each.

Upon a bed, a, of suitable form, we mountwhich extends laterally across the bed of the machine, and is provided with holes h for the entrance of the ends of the punches c f, and openings h for the discharge of the punching's. Extending up through the bed of the machine and over the top of the die-block h is a yoke or strap, 45, the lower end of which is connected to the foot-treadle k, by means of which it may be brought down on top of the die block h, in the center of which is a recess, W, of suitable width and depth toreceive it.

It is held up or restored to place, when the treadle is released, by a spring, I, which is bolted to the under sideot' the bed a and bears on the bottom of the cross-piece of the yoke z. The'shaftsb and c are driven by gear-wheels b 0 which receive power from the power-shaft m by means of the pinion m. The pinion m is loose on the shaft m, but is connected thereto by a clutch, n, which may be thrown into or outof gear by a lever or other suitable device, the handle of which extends within reach of the operator of the machine when standing in the proper position for feeding it. There is sufficient room between the side of the yoke t and the die-block h for the insertion of the straps of the shovel or other article to be punched, and the purpose of the yoke t is to draw down the work into position on the dieblock 71. opposite to the punches. V

This device is especially useful in articles like shovel-straps, which are not always parallel with each other, but are frequently bent or twisted when applied to the punching-machine. The punches e f are not arranged 0pposite toeach other in a machine for punching for the reason afore stated, that when the straps are laid down upon the handle the holes, when punched opposite to each other, are brought out of line by reason of the curved shape of the handle. The proper position of the punches e f with relation to each other for punching the strap for a particular pattern of handle may be easily determined by proper calculation, and, when once ascertained, will suit for punching all straps used in the manufacture of that pattern of shovel. The degree of the curvature of the handle and its diameter being known, the position where the holes should be punched in the strap, so as to bring them opposite to each other when laid down The v on the handle, is easily ascertained. punches are then placed accordingly.

In the use of our machine the straps are insert'ed between the yoke and the die-block in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Then the yoke i is drawn down by the treadle, the clutch n thrown into gear, and the machine is set in motion and punches the straps. The machine is then stopped, the treadle released, and the strap is removed, and this operation is repeated with each strap.

Our machine is not only useful for punching the straps of all kinds of shovels and spades, but also may be arranged for punching boiler, tank, and other sheet metal, and for other uses.

If desired, a shear maybe placed on the machine, back of one or both of the shafts, and connected with the eccentrics by yokes, and the machine used for shearing aswell as for punching. When the machine is used for punching boiler or tank iron, it is often necessary to straighten the edges before punching.

The machine may be operated by foot or by power. When the machine is used for punch- -ing tank or plate iron, the yoke i is dispensed with.

In addition to punching the holes in the straps, so that when laid down upon the bandle they will come directly opposite to each other, our machine possesses the advantages of punching all the holes at one operation, and that with great rapidity, and effects a great saving of time and labor over the old methods.

For some purposes the punches on but one side of the die-block may be used.

'We are aware that reciprocating punches moving in the same line from'opposite directions have been combined with a centrallyarrangedsolid die-block, and do not herein claim the same.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--- 1. In a machine for punching shovel-straps and like articles, the combination, with a centrally-arranged die-block having a central discharge-channel and punch-holes communicatin g therewith from opposite sides, of reciprocating punches arranged on opposite sides of the central die-block and coacting therewith, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for punching shovel-straps and like articles, the combination, with a central die-block having the punch-holes of its opposite sides in different vertical planes, of reciprocating punches arranged upon the opposite sides of the central die-block in. planes corresponding to the punch-holes thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of thedie-block and a yoke for encircling it laterally, having a vertical movement for the purpose of holding the work in position upon the die-block, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. T-hecom-bination of the die-block, the yoke for holding down the work,.a treadle t'or drawing down the yoke, and a spring for forcingit up, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combination of the recessed die-block and the yoke, substantially as and for the purposes described.

-6. The combination of the perforated fixed die block, shafts provided with eccentrics, slides, andpunches arranged on opposite sides of the fixed die-block and coacting therewith, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set' our hands this 22d day of April, A. D. 1882.

WILLIAM P. T. JOPE. WILLIAM M. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses T. B. KERR, W. B. Oo-RwtN. 

